According to BBC, the hippopotamus (hippo) is one of the deadliest large land mammals in the world. In Africa alone, it kills an estimated 500 people per year. They are aggressive animals with sharp teeth that nobody would want to get stuck under, especially because they could weigh up to 6,062lbs (2,750kg) which can easily crush a human to death.
Their enormous power as this wild animal can be seen in a recent case of a hippo attack in a village in Muranga County, north of Nairobi City in Kenya.
Hippo Attacks Man in Kenya
Citizen Digital reported that it was about 7 pm, and David Njoroge, 50, had just arrived home after his daily hustle and was about to eat his dinner when he heard the incessant noise of people calling for help.
He stepped outside his house to see why his neighbors were screaming and that was when he came face-to-face with the large mammal. He said in an interview that he initially thought that there was a thief that was probably cornered by the people and was shocked when the hippo suddenly attacked him.
The hippo attacked hum and bit a large chunk of flesh from the bewildered Njoroge's right shoulder. He noted that he fell to the ground and played dead, hoping he would be saved. Fortunately, his neighbors rescued him from the beast and rushed him to Maragua Level 4 hospital where he was admitted.
Dr. Irene Nyambura said that the patient is now stable and will undergo major surgery. The locals have already asked the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to help mitigate human-wildlife conflict in their area.
How Dangerous Are Hippos to Humans?
Hippos are large herbivorous mammals that mostly spend their time in the water. Although they are one of the most-loved animals in Africa, hippos can be aggressive and are one of the most dangerous animals in sub-Saharan Africa.
Newsweek reported that the estimated number of fatalities each year due to hippo attacks ranges from 500 to 3,000 per year, making them the world's deadliest mammal to humans.
The study, titled "Hippopotamus bite morbidity: a report of 11 cases from Burundi" published in the journal Oxford Medical Case Reports, shows that the probability of being killed by a hippo ranges from 29% to 87%. That is higher than the death rate from a bear attack which is around 5% for a grizzly bear, while there is a 22% chance for a crocodile attack and 75% for a lion attack.
Chances of getting attacked by hippo increases as humans approach them in their natural habitats. Hippos only attack if they are threatened, especially mothers who would fend off perceived threats to their young.
Hippos can open their large mouths by up to 150 degrees and have very sharp lower canine teeth with very extremely powerful bite force stronger than a lion's.
The authors of the study wrote that these land mammals have ferocious jaw force, unique mouth size, and sharp teeth that can easily crush a human in a single bite.
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